Flower, Border, and Roughout Saddle

[TroyWest]

Ross,

Continueing in the critique mode. I think the overall appearance of your saddle is nice. Nice flowing curves all over until you get to the front seat jockey, under the latigo holder you have a sharp angle at the front jockey corner. It should be a nice radius there also. Set your compass at 2 or 2 1/2" and make that a nice round curve in the future. I also find the sharp pointed back billit a bit of a distraction. It's too nice of a saddle to have that. There is a lot of work in that saddle and you are making a good hand. I hope that helps.

Troy

[RWB]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it. Quick couple questions though, Troy. What would you prefer to see on that back billet? An English point perhaps? Also down in Wichita Falls you said that my skirts and my overall saddle flared out to much. On this saddle I'm having the same problem of getting everything to lay down and still be tight. Even my stirrup leathers and fenders are sticking way out, kinda like wings. Consequently my seat jockeys flare out as well. Any suggestions? Should I stick it on my draw down and crank on it? I hate to do that, but have no other ideas.

Thanks,

Ross

Edited January 20, 2010 by RWB

[TroyWest]

Ross,

An English point would be fine. You could also square off the tip of that billet and that would look good also. Look at Chuck Stormes web site. That is how he cuts all his billet ends.

You can't tell from these photos that everything is flaring out. When you block in your skirts and they are still damp, bend them into a nice curve like the curve of the horses barrel. If you dont it will dry sraight out, flared too much. Then you plug them, making them stiffer and nothing can go down any farther than the shape of the skirts will allow. In other words, if you put a saddle on a horses back and the skirts stick up in the air at the back corners, they are flared out too much. They should have been bent down when they were damp in the blocking and forming stage.

You are doing many things well. You have a pretty good eye to be doing what you are doing and it looks like you used a nice tree as well. Getting honest and constructive criticism is a good way to improve. I probably would not have commented had you not repeatedly asked for it. The problem with a critique is we tend to, even have to point out the negatives in order to eliminate them in the future. I just want you to know you are doing many things in a good and positive way. I also think you have a great attitude to learn.

Troy

[D.A. Kabatoff]

Ross,

Very nice saddle overall! I'd agree with Troy about the rear billet and seat jockey. To take things a step further and in no way diminish the smooth, functional work you have done, I'd take a closer look at the front, rear, and middle seat jockey lines. My eye is a bit distracted for a couple or reasons. Your rear jockeys maintain an even distance from the edge of the skirt except for the portion under the rear rigging to where they disappear under the seat jockey... they start to move away from the skirt. I prefer to see that distance even, all the way around the skirt. Because the lower edge of your front jockey matches up with the lower edge of the rear jockey, this has caused your front seat jockey to appear narrow (up and down) directly below the fork. Because this area is so narrow it exposes more of your flatplate rigging which then seems "heavy" compared to the front jockey and throwing things out of balance.

I think if you kept the lower edge of the rear jockey to skirt edge distance even, all the way round, it would require you to drop the front jockey as well as the seat jockey, hiding a bit more of the rigging and giving a more balanced look to the saddle. This is a very small adjustment but when added to the graceful lines of your skirt and seat jockey, I think would give this saddle a nice look.

Darcy

Edited January 20, 2010 by D.A. Kabatoff

[TroyWest]

I completely agree with everything Darcy said. I even thought the same things I just didn't want to write a book or overwhelm you with too much information. Still, if you can apply those things it will greatly enhance your work.

[RWB]

Troy and Darcy, I really appreciate the input. That's what I was looking for. When I ask for a critique, I mean it. No holds barred. My skin is about a foot thick. It is also great to hear you guys point out things that I have seen and don't like, because then I know I'm looking at the right things. Like the front jockey, I didn't like how it looked, but until you said what to do with it, Troy, I wasn't sure why I disliked it. So again I appreciate it. The great thing is that this saddle is going to Pennsylvania, and I will hopefully never have to see it again. The guy who is buying will never see the things I do, so it works out. I will work on all those things on the next one coming up here in a bit.

Thanks again,

Ross Brunk

Edited January 21, 2010 by RWB

[GrampaJoel]

I know I'm late on this but I really like the added detail put into your work on this saddle.

Like the dyed graduated circles that match all the concho leather edges, and your high gloss skirt edges, and finished edges on everything with an edge. Stuff like that takes a lot of extra work and a lot of extra pride in your work..

[RWB]

I know I'm late on this but I really like the added detail put into your work on this saddle.

Like the dyed graduated circles that match all the concho leather edges, and your high gloss skirt edges, and finished edges on everything with an edge. Stuff like that takes a lot of extra work and a lot of extra pride in your work..

Thanks I appreciate the comments.

Ross